At their meeting on Tuesday, December 7, the Clarion City Council approved a resolution for the issuance of a hospital revenue note for Iowa Specialty Hospital. The money will go toward the clinic that ISH is working on in Webster City. Greg Polzin, ISH CFO, explained that the council had previously approved a loan of 4 million dollars for the project. They only ended up taking $3 million but now need the other $1 million as they plan other additions.
Other resolutions were passed for a pay request for the well project and setting a public hearing to adopt the recent codification of the city codes. The public hearing is set for the council meeting on January 4. Another resolution was approved to promote Darren Waller to full-time buildings and grounds technician. He currently is a seasonal employee.
City Administrator Clint Middleton gave an update about the Downtown Façade Project. A blight survey was completed by the firm Bergland & Cram. They identified blight on downtown buildings that would be eligible for restoration and/or work partially funded by a grant. Owners of eligible buildings would be responsible for paying 25% of the project, with the city covering 25% and the grant 50%. Middleton explained that so many buildings were identified that the city was advised that breaking up the project into multiple parts would be best. This however would require a bigger commitment from the city over the course of the next several years. The council was agreeable to that. Middleton will move forward in that direction.
In his report, Middleton noted that the new ordinance compliance officer has been at work, and a number of properties have been cited with violations, some of which are already being remedied.
